Multiple rivet setting tool



May 20, 1958 A. MARcoux 2,835,150

MULTIPLE RIVET SETTING Tool.

Filed DeC. 14, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l ggz 7" JNVENTOR. 4e/*Ha Mecca/c May 20, 1958 A. MARcoUX 2,835,150

MULTIPLE RIVET SETTING TOOL Filed Dec. 14, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. /z/waedeaaw United States Patent O i MULTIPLE RIVET SETTING TOOL Arthur Marcoux, Hermosa Beach, Calif., assignor to Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc.,.Sauta Monica, Calif.

Application December 14, 1953, Serial No. 398,125

l Claims. (Cl. 78-49) This invention relates to a device for setting rivets, and more particularly to a portable rivet setting tool for setting rivets in nutplates, anchor nuts, or the like.

As airplanes become more complex, it is becoming more and more necessary to fasten various portions of the structure to relatively thin anchor members--a technique that requires the use of nutplates or anchor nuts or the like. Nutplates, however, are relatively difficult to install. The designer is frequently confronted with having to redesign and tie in a part in a less convenient location, where nutplates will not be required, because the diiiiculty of using nutplates in the preferred location militates against their use.

The principal reason for the reluctance to use nutplates can be attributed to the fact that existing tools for both piercing nutplate rivet holes and for setting nutplate rivets are cumbersome, heavy, and generally unsatisfactory. The nutplates are often damaged in the process of setting the rivets, and even when they are not, the time required to fasten a large quantity is inordinately long, because of the care the operator must exercise to place the riveting tool in position and set the rivet without damaging the nutplate.

Existing nutplate rivet setting tools are generally of two types. A conventional rivet gun with an offset tool is sometimes used, but this is unsatisfactory because, despite the utmost care on the part of the operator, he often mashes the nutplate as the rivet is set, and moreover, an 'additional person is required to back up the rivets. Another tool that is used comprises a rivet squeezer having companion upper land lower jaws, the i jaws being generally H-shaped so that the heads and ends of the rivets may be contacted without damage to the nutplate. Some versions of this device have a tongue disposed between the jaws for supporting and positioning the nutplate prior to the commencement of the setting operation. This type of tool is quite unsatisfactory also because the squeezer is much too heavy to handle deftly; the H-shaped jaws require adjustment for different lengths of rivets; the nutplate has a tendency to fall off the tongue element prior to positioning; the operator is required to hold the heavy squeezer in position with one hand while he inserts the loose rivets through the proper holes with the other; and the rivets are frequently dislodged from the nutplate by inadvertent contact with the jaws prior to the moment of actual setting.

The present invention comprises a vibratory or rattle type pneumatic hammer having a twostage control or throttle, an elongate J-shaped yoke attached to the pneumatic hammer, and a cooperating pair of novel rivet sets, one of the sets adapted to be carried by the pneumatic hammer and the other by the attached yoke. The iirst rivet set, that carried by the pneumatic hammer, has an ingenious slot or receiving cavity which permits the rivet set to reciprocate despite the presence of a temporary nutplate retaining means such as a Cleco type fastener. The second rivet set, that carried by the yoke, not only provides suitable clearance for the nut portion of the 2,835,150 Patented May 20, 1958 ICC nutplate, but also contains means for retaining the nutplate snugly against the structure to Which it is to be attached during the rivet setting operation. The same built-in retaining means serves to prevent inadvertent dislodgment of the nutplate rivets prior to the commencement of the rivet setting operation. The tool is light, compact, and easily handled by both male and female operators, and obviates the difficulties heretofore mentioned.

In operation, after the nutplates are positioned, the rivets inserted, and the Cleco type fastener inserted in the nutplate, the tool is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the sheet or structure to which the nutplates are to be riveted, and the throttle of the pneu'- matic hammer is depressed to its first stage, enabling the operator to slowly and controllably advance the irst rivet set and to dispose it around the Clecotype fastener. After the rivet sets are propertly disposed, the throttle or control is depressed to the second stage, causing the hammer to rattle, thereby upsetting the rivets. The nutplate is never damaged, and the operator is not required to juggle a nutplate on the end of a tongue arrangement.

Among the more important features of this invention is the use, in the combination, of the vibratory or rattle type pneumatic hammer for actuatingl the movable rivet set. This type of hammer renders a series of rapid, moderately heavy, blows instead of the one extremely heavy squeeze utilized by the standard bench-type hammers or by the portable squeezers The use of the vibratory action instead of the conventional squeeze obviates the necessity for a heavy, cumbersome ram required by a squeezer, and makes for a heretofore unachieved lightness and compactness.

Other important and novel features of this invention include the first rivet set which enables riveting to be carried out despite the presence of a Cleco type fastener, and the second rivet set which has a built-in means for retaining the nutplate snugly against the structure to which it is to be attached, and which prevents the inadvertent dislodging of the nutplate rivets prior to the moment they are upset.

The presently preferred lform of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the tool with p the components shown in section;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the tool with the valve mechanism shown in section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the first and second rivet sets with the first rivet set partially withdrawn from the final position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the first and second rivet sets in position to set the rivets, with the lower set shown in section;

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective View of a second rivet set capable of accommodating one type of floating nutplate; and

` Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a second rivet set capable of accommodating another type of floating nutplate; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the rst rivet set.

As illustrated in Figure l, the tool comprises a standard vibratory, or rattle, type of pneumatic hammer 12. This sub-combination is generally of the nature of the similar hammer disclosed in Allen Patent 2,388,157, the present hammer, like the patented one, likewise including a body member 13 with a mounting lug 14 adapted to receive a yoke or frame member on the lower portion thereof.v

As in the cited patent, within thebody member 13 is located a first piston assembly 15 comprising a head block 17 adapted to slide or reciprocate within the body member, a hollow, elongate, spring-biased barrel or piston 18 threadedly engaged with head block 17, and having within its bore 19 a second piston or slug 20 adapted to be rapidly reciprocated in the bore by the air stream, and a spring 22 adapted for engaging a rivet set disposed 1n the lower portion of bore 19. in the uppermost end ol body member 13 is a plunger member 23 slidably disposed in the body member and adapted to engage head block 17 in facewise contact. Suitable valve means 24, for metering the incoming air to both the rear face of plunger member 23 and to the second piston or slug 2t), and controlled by handle 25, permits the operator in a well known manner to actuate either the rst piston assembly or the second piston 20, at his discretion.

The present hammer, as contrasted to the patented one, also includes, located within, and at the lower end of, bore 19 the rst novel and upper, as sho-wn) rivet set 27, it being disposed in axial alignment with piston 2t) and adapted to receive and transmit the percussive forces of piston 20. The rivet set comprises a stem portion 28 ,y which protrudes into the upper, enlarged portion of bore i 19, and which receives and transmits the percussive forces of slug 20; a shoulder 29 which is engaged by spring 22 thereby to retain rivet set 27 in bore 19, and to return it to the proper position after each successive blow; and a body portion 30. The body portion 3i) is of a generally frustoconical shape in its preferred embodiment, but any convenient shape may be used. At the lower end of body portion 30 is a generally smooth, hard, anvil surface 32 which is adapted to coact with a similar surface on a complementary rivet set to upset the nutplate rivets.

As heretofore mentioned., one of the important and novel features of this invention is the cavity 33 disposed in body member 30, with a cylindrical inner wall cut through to the exterior at one side, as at 31 to form a generally U-shaped fastened engaging member. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the slot enables the rivet set 27 to encompass a Cleco type fastener which is commonly used to temporarily retain the nutplate in position, and it permits rivet set 27 to be reciprocated despite the pres-- ence of the Cleco fastener. Bearing surfaces 34, the distance between which is only slightly greater than the diameter of the Cleco, guide the rst rivet set 27, insuring proper engagement of surface 32 with the rivets. Surfaces 34 are so fashioned as to form a shoulder or lip 36, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Attached to body member 13 at mounting lug 14 is an elongate, substantially J-shaped frame or yoke member 35, having a second rivet set 37 disposed at the lower end thereof.

In this embodiment of the invention, the second rivet set 37 comprises a stem portion 38 bearing a snap ring 41 by means of which it may be quickly and conveniently attached to and detached from the yoke member, and a body portion 39 of a generally cylindrical shape. An anvil surface 40 is formed on the upper end of the body portion 39 and is adapted to coact with the anvil surface 32 formed on the rst rivet set 27. Disposed within an elongate, cylindrical hole 42 in body portion 39, is a hollow nutplate receiving member 43 adapted at its upper portion 44 to receive the nut portion of a nutplate therein. The nutplate receiving member 43 is biased at its lower end by spring 45 and is thereby urged against a positioned nutplate, retaining the nutplate snugly against the structure to which it is to be attached. Receiving member 43 is prevented from being ejected from hole 42 by snap ring 47 disposed in groove 48.

Prior to using the tool, a nutplate 49 is attached, for example, to an aircraft skin 50 by a temporary fastening means or Cleco 52, and rivets 53 are inserted in the holes in the skin and nutplate. The rst rivet set 27 is then disposed around the Cleco fastener and the second rivet lset 37 is brought up snugly against the nutplate 49 (Figure 3), the nut portion of the nutplate being received in the upper portion 44 of receiving member v43. The spring 45 biasing member 43 is of suicient strength that it cannot be depressed by the tool operator alone. This fact prevents the operator from bringing anvil surface 4t) into contact with rivets 53 until upper rivet set 27 is in contact with the rivet heads, as shown in Figure 4. In this manner the operator is prevented from inadvertently dislodging rivcts 53 prior to the moment of upsetting.

After the tool is positioned as indicated in Figure 3, the operator depresses control handle 25 to its rst stage or detent, causing valve 24 to admit metered air to the back (or upper as shown) side of plunger member 23, plunger member 23 in turn forcing the entire rst piston assembly 1S slowly and controllably downward, permitting the operator to bring the rst rivet set 27 in contact with the heads of rivets 53. At the same time, surface 40 of the second or lower rivet set 37 is brought in contact with the ends of rivets 53, the power of the tool overcoming the resistance of the spring 45 mentioned previously. When both rivet sets are firmly in contact with the rivet ends (Figure 4), the operator depresses control handle 25 to the second stage, causing valve 25 to direct additional air to actuate the second piston or slug 20 while retaining the rst piston assembly 15 in its lowered position. Slug 20 reciprocates rapidly, and hammers" stem 28 of rst rivet set 27 thereby causing the rivet ends to be upset by the anvil surfaces 32 and 40.

After the upsetting is accomplished, the rst piston assembly 15 is retracted upwardly and the tool is withdrawn. l

While the disclosed embodiment shows a lower rivet set which will accommodate the conventional nutplate, it is obvious that, without departing from the spirit of the invention, the second or lower rivet set maybe adapted to t any type of nutplate. Figures 5 and 6 showlower rivet sets suitable for use with two different types of floating or basket type nutplates.

While the presently preferred form of the' invention has been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended that all such changes shall be embraced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A portable rivet setting tool for setting rivets in nutplates or the like comprising: a power tool having reciprocatable piston means therein; a first rivet set disposed in said piston means and adapted to deliver blows to rivets; yoke means attached to said tool; and a second rivet set attached to the lower end of yoke means, said second rivet set comprising a stem portion adapted to be disposed in said yoke; a body portion having an anvil surface at the exposed end thereof, said body portion being adapted to coact with said rst rivet set; an elongate hole in said body portion adapted to receive a nut plate retaining means; and a cylindrical, hollow, spring-biased nutplate receiving member disposed in said elongate hole, said receiving member being adapted to receive the nut portion of a nutplate therein and to yieldingly urge and retain the nutplate snugly against the structure to which it is to be attached during the upsetting operation.

2. A portable rivet setting tool for setting rivets in nut plates or the like comprising: a pneumatic hammer having reciprocatable piston means therein; a rst rivet `set disposed in said piston means and adapted to deliver blows to rivets; yoke means attached tosaid hammer; a second rivet set attached to the lower end ofsaid yoke means; said second rivet set having an anvil portion thereon adapted to coact with said rst rivet set to upset rivets; and resiliently-biased clamp-means mounted in said second set independently of the anvil portion thereof and shaped and arranged to constantly engage the nut portion only of a nut plate so as to independently clamp the nut plate positively and constantly to the structure to which it is to be attached during the rivet setting operation.

3. A portable rivet setting tool for setting rivets in nutplates or the like while the nutplates are held in position by temporary retaining means comprising: a pneumatic hammer having reciprocatable piston means therein; a first rivet set disposed in said piston means and having surfaces arranged to receive the temporary retaining means so as to enable the reciprocation of the first rivet set despite the presence of the temporary retaining means; yoke means attached to said hammer; and a second rivet set attached to the lower end of said yoke means, said second rivet set comprising a stem portion adapted to be disposed in said yoke means, a body portion adapted to coact with said first rivet set, an elongated hole in said body portion adapted to receive a nutplate retaining means, and a nutplate receiving member disposedin said elongate hole, said receiving member being adapted to receive the nut portion of the nutplate therein and to yieldingly urge and retain the nutplate snugly against the structure to which it is to be attached during the upsetting operation.

4. A portable rivet setting tool for attaching nut plates or the like comprising: a pneumatic hammer having reciprocatable piston means therein; a first rivet set disposed in said piston means and adapted to deliver blows to rivets; yoke means attached to said hammer; a second rivet set attached to said yoke means, said second rivet set being adapted to coact with said first rivet set to upset rivets; and means mounted in said second set for engaging the nut portion of said nutplate previous to the engagement of the rivets by the anvil portion of the second set and for supporting the nutplate out of contact with said anvil portion, for preventing the inadvertent displacement of the nut plate rivets from the rivet holes prior to the moment when said first rivet set contacts the rivet ends.

5. A portable rivet setting tool for attaching nutplates or the like comprising: a pneumatic hammer having reciprocatable piston means therein; a first rivet set disposed in said piston means; yoke means attached to said hammer; and a second rivet set disposed in said yoke means said second rivet set comprising a stem portion adapted to be disposed in said yoke means, a body portion adapted to coact with said first rivet set, an elongate hole in said body portion adapted to receive a nut plate receiving member, a spring-biased hollow, cylindrical nutplate receiving member disposed in said elongate hole, said receiving member being adapted to engage the nut portion of a nutplate thereby preventing the body portion of said secondrivet set for' contacting the loose nut plate rivets and inadvertently dislodging them prior to the commencement of the upsetting operation.

6. A portable rivet setting tool for setting rivets in nut plates or the like while the nut plates are held in position by temporary retaining means comprising: a pneumatic hammer having reciprocatable piston means therein; a first rivet set disposed in said piston means and having surfaces arranged to receive the temporary retaining means so as to enable reciprocation of the rst rivet set despite the presence of the temporary retaining means; yoke means attached to said hammer; a second rivet set attached to said yoke means, said second rivet set being adapted to coact with said first rivet set; means in said second rivet set for receiving the nut-socket of said nut plate; and strong spring means in said second rivet set biasing said receiving means overeomingly against operator-depression thereof by means of the first rivet set until the first rivet set is in contact with the rivet heads, thereby to prevent inadvertent displacement of the rivets prior to the commencement of the actual upsetting ofsaid rivets.

7. A portable setting tool for setting rivets in nut plates or the like comprising: a pneumatic hammer,

'6 said hammer comprising first piston means adapted to controllably advance a rivet setting means, second piston means located withn said first piston means, said second piston means being adapted to deliver rapid percussions to a rivet setting means, and control means arranged to provide independent control of said first and second piston means; a rivet setting means disposed in one end of said first piston means and adapted to be controllably advanced by said first piston means to a pre-selected position and further adapted to receive the rapid percussions of said second piston means when the preselected position is attained; frame means attached to said pneumatic hammer for supporting a complementary rivet setting means; a complementary rivet setting means disposed on said frame means and adapted to coact with the aforesaid rivet setting meansl whereby to upset rivets; and direct-engagement, springbiased inwardly thrusting means carried by the complementary setting means for engaging the nut-portion only of a nut-plate and positively clamping said plate constantly to the structure to which it is to be attached during the rivet setting operation.

8. A portable setting tool for setting rivets in nut plates or the like comprising: a pneumatic hammer, said hammer comprising first piston means adapted to controllably advance a rivet setting means, second piston means located within said rst piston means, said second piston means being adapted to deliver rapid percussions to a rivet setting means, and control means arranged to provide independent control of said first and second piston means; a rivet setting means disposed in one end of said rst piston means and adapted to be controllably advanced by said first piston means to a preselected position and further adapted to receive the rapid per' cussions of said second piston means when the preselected position is attained; frame means attached to said pneumatic hammer for supporting a complementary rivet setting means; a complementary rivet setting means disposed on said frame means and adapted to coact with the aforesaid rivet setting means whereby to upset rivets; and resilient, independently thrusting means carried by the complementary set and adapted to engage the nut portion of said nut plate previous to its engagement by the complementary set so as to prevent inad vertent displacement of the nut-plate rivets prior to the commencement of the upsetting operation.

. 9. A portable rivet setting tool for setting rivets in nut plates or the like While the nut plates are held in position by temporary retaining means comprising: a pneumatic hammer, said hammer comprising a body member, a relatively large hollow piston means disposed in said body member and adapted to receive and controllably advance a rivet setting means, a second piston means located in said hollow piston means, said second piston means being adapted to move slidably back and forth in said hollow piston means and to deliver rapid blows to a rivet setting means, and control means arranged to provide independent control of said first and second piston means; an elongate rivet set, said rivet set comprising a stem portion adapted to be received in said first piston means and while so disposed to receive the rapid blows of said second piston means, and a frusto-conical body portionV having a hardened surface at the exposed end thereof, said body portion having a substantially U-shaped opening therein adapted to receive the aforesaid temporary nut plate retaining means so as to enable `reciprocation of said elongate rivet set despite the presence of the temporary retaining means; an elongate, substantially J-shaped yoke attached to said pneumatic hammer and adapted to support a complementary rivet setting member; and a complementary rivet set attached to the lower end of said yoke, said complementary rivet set comprising a stem portion adapted to be disposed in said yoke, a body portion having an4 anvil surface at the exposed end thereof adapted to coact with the hardened exposed end of said iirstmentioned rivet set, an elongate hole in said body portion adapted to receive a nut-plate retaining means, and a spring-biased member disposed in said elongate hole, said member being adapted to receive the nut portion of a nut plate and to retain the nutplate snugly against the structure to which it is to be attached during the upsetting operation.

10. A portable rivet setting tool for setting rivets in nutplates or the like for use with a pneumatic hammer having a body member, and rattle piston means in said body member adapted to receive a rivet setting means and to rattle reciprocate along the longitudinal axis of said hammer, said tool` comprising: a iirst rivet setting means adapted to be disposed in said piston means and to set at least two nutplate rivets simultaneously; yoke means adapted to be attached to said body member and arranged to receive a second rivet set; and a second rivet set attached to said yoke means, said second rivet set being adapted to so coact with said first rivet set as to set at least two nutplate rivets simultaneously; said second set having resilient means arranged therein and conformed to the nut-portion of the nutplate so as to receive and floatingly support said nut portion thereby to enable the two sets to upset a plurality of rivets simultaneously without damaging said nut portion.

11. A portable rivet setting tool for setting rivets in nut plates or the like while the nut plates are held in position by a temporary retaining means, said tool being adapted for use with a pneumatic hammer comprising a body member, a relatively large hollow piston means dispo-sed in said body member and adapted to receive and controllably advance a rivet setting means, a second piston means located in said hollow piston means, said second piston means being adapted to move slidably back and forth in said hollow piston means and to deliver rapid blows to a rivet setting means, and control means arranged to provide independent control of said first and second piston means, said portable rivet setting tool comprising: an elongate rivet set, said rivet set comprising a stem portion adapted to be received in said first piston means and while so disposed to receive the rapid blows of said second piston means, and a truste-conical body portion having a hardened surface at fhe exposed end thereof, said body portion having a substantially U-shaped opening therein adapted to receive the aforesaid temporary nutplate retaining means so as to enable reciprocation of said elongate rivet set despite the presence of the temporary retaining means; an elongate, substantially l-shaped yoke adapted to be attached to said pneumatic hammer and arranged to support a complementary rivet set; and a. complementary rivet set attached to the lower end of said yoke, said complementary rivet set comprising a stern portion adapted to be disposed in said yoke, a body portion having an anvil surface at the exposed end thereof adapted to coact with the hardened exposed end of said iirst mentioned rivet set, an elongate hole in said body portion adapted to receive a nut-plate retaining means, and a spring-biased member disposed in said elongate hole, said member being adapted to receive the nut portion of a nut plate and to retain the nutplate snugly against the structure to which it is to be attached during the upsetting operation.

12. A complementary rivet set for use in setting rivets in nutplates or the like comprising: a stem portion; a body portion having an elongate hole therein adapted to receive a nutplate receiving member; and a springbiased nutplate receiving meinberdisposed in said elongate hole, said receiving member being adapted to receive the nut portion of a nutplate therein and to yieldingly urge and retain the nutplate snugly against the structure to which it is to be attached during the upsetting operation.

13. A complementary rivet set for use in a nutplate assenso rivet setting tool having a pneumatic hammer, a first rivet set disposed in said hammer and adapted to be reciprocated thereby, and a yoke attached to said hammer and adapted to carry said complementary rivet set in coacting alignment with said iirst rivet set, said compleinentary rivet set comprising: a stem portion adapted to be carried by said yoke; a body portion having an anvil surface at the exposed end thereof, said body portion being adapted to coact with said rst rivet set in upsetting rivets; an elongate hole in said body portion adapted to receive a nutplate retaining member; and a nutplate retaining member disposed in said elongate hole, said retaining member being adapted to receive the nut portion of the nutplate therein, and resilient means in aid elongate hole under said retaining member to bias ,d member outwardly and to yieldingly urge and retain the nutplate snugly against the structure to which it is to be attached during the upsetting operation.

i4. A riveting device for setting rivets in structural members while the member is held in its pre-riveting pcsition against its abutting structural compiement by cion gate temporary retaining means extending in the thickness" wise direction of the member, comprising: hammemneans having a reciprocatable piston therein; a "First rivet set disposed in said piston, said irst set including in* rior surfaces arranged to define a seat for said retaining that enables reciprocation of the first set despite the presence of said retaining means therein; a yoke extending from the hammer; and a second rivet set carried by said yoke operatively adjacent the first set; said second sot including a portion for mounting same in the yoke, a body adapted to coact with the rst set and having an elongate aperture therein, and means disposed in said aperture for receiving a portion of said structural member to be riveted, said means being resiliently mounted so as to yieldingly urge said structural member against said abutting structure independently ot said body during the riveting operation.

15. A riveting device for setting rivets in structurer members while the member is held in its pre-riveting position against its abutting structural complement by temporary retaining means extending in the thickness Wise direction beyond said articles, comprising: hammer means having la reciprocatable piston therein; an elongate, first rivet set carried by said piston, said rst set comprising a stem seated in the piston and la body having an anvil face, said body having an axially extending, laterally opening seat therein for said temporary rem taining means, the seating enabling reciprocation lof ysaid first set with the temporary means in place; a yoke carried by the hammer; and a sec-ond rivet set carried by the yoke in operation adjacent to the iirst set; said second set including a stem seating in the yoke, a body portion having an anvil surface adapted to coact with the firstsaid anvil face, .said body having a bore; and a spring biased clamping member mounted in said bore and conformed to receive la, portion of said member and resiliently clamp said structural member to its complement during the riveting operation,

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

